Weight Watchers Cover

WW (Weight Watchers)

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  • United States
  • Canada
  • United Kingdom
  • Australia
  • International
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Not Listed
Access By
  • Physical Location
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  • Google Android App
  • Apple iOS App
Number of Locations
1000 plus

Subscription

Subscription Type
  • Paid Option(s)
Price Per Month
$16.62 (min cost)
For Weight Watchers Online. Food purchased at your local grocery store.
Shortest Plan Available
1 month
Initial Charge
$20.00
Depending on promotion available Startup fee may be waived
Coupon
Yes

Healthy Living & Weight Loss

Digital Tools
  • Body Mass Index Calculator
  • Weight Tracker
  • Activity Tracker
  • Progress Reporting
  • Points System
Exercise Programs
  • General Health Maintenance
  • Weight Loss

Diet & Nutrition

Features
  • Certified Nutrition Expert
  • Multiple Meal Plans
  • Customizable Meal Plans
  • Vegetarian Meal Plans
  • Gluten Free Meal Plans
  • Allergy Options
  • Suggested Substitutions
  • Recipes & Tips
  • Dining Out Guide

Fitness & Workouts

Features
  • Exercise Plans
  • Detailed Instructions

Customer Resources

Help & Support
  • 24-hour Support
  • Chat
  • Email
  • Phone
  • Forums
  • Articles
  • Videos
Expert Advice
  • Articles
  • Newsletters
  • Books
  • Magazines
Community Support
  • Chat
  • Forums
  • In-Person Support Groups
  • Online Support Groups
  • Success Stories / Testimonials
  • Social Media

Weight Watchers was founded by Jean Nidetch in the early 1960's. In the beginning it was just a group of friends getting together every week to discuss how to lose weight. Since then it has grown considerably and now over 3.4 million people (as of 2018) are currently subscribed and actively using the weight loss system from all over the world.

Weight Watchers helps people lose weight by providing information, tools and motivation. This popular program is not just about losing weight though, it is also about keeping the weight off. This requires positive behavioral changes in your life which Weight Watcher meetings and their online content and tools provide. Weight Watchers OnlinePlus is ideal for people who cannot attend meetings. Here you will learn how to lose weight with the WW Freestyle Program, and you'll be able to use their state-of-the-art online and mobile tools that help you achieve your goals.

The weight loss system at Weight Watchers is called Freestyle and is developed by a scientific advisory board. This board is made up of a number of credentialed scientists with research experience and knowledge in weight management. The Freestyle program uses SmartPoints and FitPoints. It is designed for a safe rate of weight loss which is up to two pounds per week after the first three weeks. Weight Watchers takes a holistic lifestyle approach to losing weight championing a healthy diet and exercise routines for long-term health.

WW Freestyle Program

The original Points program was launched in 1997 and PointsPlus in 2010 (with ActivePoints a few years later). Since then the research Weight Watchers has done into weight loss has greatly enhanced their understanding on how the whole process of losing weight works. The SmartPoint system was launched in 2015 and updated late in 2017 and is now called the WW Freestyle Program. It takes into account this ongoing research. For example, every calorie is not considered the same. The food source the calorie came from is also important (protein, carbohydrates, fats, etc.). You wouldn't consider the same calorie serving of carrots equal to the same calorie serving of chocolate would you? How it works is every food and drink is assigned a point value and every person is assigned a daily SmartPoints budget which is based on their gender, age, height, and weight. SmartPoints is calculated using calories (kilojoules), saturated fat, sugar and protein. No food is off-limits, but the plan assigns higher points values to foods higher in sugar or saturated fat, and lower points values to lean proteins. Most fruits and vegetables are zero points so there is no need to track these. In fact the new Freestyle program has added to the list of zero points food. These include skinless chicken breast, fish, eggs, bean, corn, and others. You can also now roll over up to 4 unused SmartPoints each day and have them to use later for a special occasion, restaurant meal, etc.

Once you sign up for Weight Watchers you will be asked to complete your online personal assessment. One of the objectives of this assessment is to determine your SmartPoints budget. It is calculated to ensure you lose weight safely. Your SmartPoints budget will change over time as you loose weight so it is important to track your daily SmartPoints number and to record your weight weekly. To track your points you can log into the Weight Watchers website and visit the "My Day" page and enter the food name in the "Track Food or Activities" field along with the portion size. This tracking can also be done via the Weight Watchers phone app. The phone app also allows you to scan food barcodes to make tracking even faster.

Overall this system is designed for you to meet your weight goals (based on your height and weight) as easily and safely as possible. This involves learning which foods to choose, the correct portions you should eat and how much you will need to exercise.

FitPoints

FitPoints is a way of measuring activity and "goes beyond the scale". When you join Weight Watchers and fill in your online personal assessment, you will also get a FitPoints goal to aim for each week. To reach this goal you will earn FitPoints for all of the activities you do.

Your FitPoints goal is bases on your current weight and how active you are. FitPoints takes your weight, activities, intensity and duration into account. You can earn FitPoints toward your weekly goal with most activities including walking, cleaning, dancing, and about anything else you can think of.

FitPoints goals do change overtime. Every 2 weeks you are prompted to revise your goal. If you are hitting your target it may ask you to increase your goal, or down a bit if your are not. Also your FitPoints goal can be adjusted manually anytime by visiting the online settings.

To track FitPoints you can use an activity tracker like a FitBit. All you need to do is synchronize the device with your Weight Watchers account and the app or website will automatically take care of the rest. If you don't have an activity tracker you can use a health app on your phone with a pedometer (iPhone or Android) to track your daily steps. You would then enter your daily steps into the Weight Watchers My Day tracker found on the website or app. For any additional activities like yoga or swimming you would enter them in manually. For those who don't have a FitBit or compatible phone it is recommend to enter a baseline of 3000 steps each day into the Weight Watchers My Day activity tracker.

You can swap FitPoints for food, but it is not usually recommended since moving shouldn't be an excuse to eat more. However if you are training for a marathon or some other intense activity several times a week, you can swap FitPoints for food.

Weight Watchers OnlinePlus

With OnlinePlus you get a number of interactive tools that allow you to learn how to lose weight with the SmartPoints Weight-Loss System, keep track of your goals, and monitor your daily food intake and exercise. This can be done online with your laptop or, on your mobile phone (Android and iPhone supported).

OnlinePlus offers:

  • Personalize your goals
  • Track your SmartPoints budget and FitPoints (includes syncing with fitness trackers)
  • Track your weight-loss progress each week with graphs and charts
  • Hundreds of recipes and meal ideas (make your own recipes even healthier)
  • Workout and exercise demonstrations (for beginners and advance)
  • Answers to common problems and challenges people have when losing weight
  • Access to the Weight Watchers online community

How it Works

  1. Visit the Weight Watchers website to subscribe and create your account.
  2. Take the Beyond the Scale personal assessment which gathers information about your lifestyle, goals and challenges. This information is used to determine your SmartPoints budget and FitPoints goal.
  3. Schedule Your Free Getting Started Call. All new members get one (even if you’ve joined before). On the call you will talk to a trained coach who will explain the program and answer any questions you have.
  4. Find some SmartPoints plan friendly meals that work for your lifestyle. Weight Watchers has many menus and recipes to help get you started (breakfast, lunch and dinner). There are recipes for everyone, from carb lovers to gluten-free foodies.
  5. Tracking your meals and activities. The Weight Watchers app and website will give you SmartPoint values for everything you eat.

Weight Watchers Meetings

Weight Watchers meetings offer a supportive environment. One of the first things you will do at your first meeting is be introduced to your Leader. A Leader is someone who started out as a member who has lost weight and has also kept off the weight through the Weight Watchers program. The Leaders are trained in the program and are there to guide members by offering their experiences and expertise. At each meeting the Leader will discuss different topics related to weight loss. This can range from meal ideas to what triggers bad eating habits. These discussions offer support and guidance and for those who want to, they can join in as well and talk about what works for them.

At the Weight Watchers website it is easy to find a meeting that is convenient and located near you. All you need to do is enter your Zip Code to bring up a map which shows all the meeting locations within the vicinity. Along with the meeting locations a weekly schedule is also displayed for each location showing when meetings take place. Meetings are run in the mornings, afternoons and evenings. Once you have found a location and time that fits your schedule you can then go ahead and signup online. Guidebooks and printed materials are included with Weight Watcher meetings.

When attending meetings new and existing members are asked to arrive 30 minutes early for registration and so you can be weighted privately and in confidence. New members will also be asked to stay for about 30 minutes after their first meeting so leaders can go over the SmartPoints program and how to best get started. Weight Watcher Meetings also includes OnlinePlus.

Weight Watchers Coaching

With Weight Watchers Personal Coaching you get a dedicated coach that you choose. The Weight Watchers-certified personal coaches are all successful Weight Watchers participants who have lost weight, and have maintained their new weight. Once you subscribed you can go through the coaches profiles and find one you relate too. The coach profiles includes information about the coaches lives including a picture, their gender, age, if they have a family, and how much weight they have lost.

Once you pick a coach you then schedule your first phone call (lasts about 30 minutes). On this call the coach will review with you how everything works and answer any questions you may have. You will also discuss any challenges you are facing. Finally the coach will help you create an action plan for the first week. With Weight Watchers Coaching you get unlimited 1-to-1 phone sessions which includes phone calls and texting. In future calls you will continue to refine and personalize your action plan and start including fitness routines. Overall coaches work with members to develop individual goals and strategies that match the member’s lifestyle. They offer motivation and tips on how to succeed with Weight Watchers.

Weight Watcher Personal Coaching also includes OnlinePlus. Coaching is not available in all countries.

Costs

Weight Watchers is subscription based and has several types of plans for you to choose from. Multi month plans will save you over the regular standard monthly plan. Subscriptions will be automatically renewed at the end of your plan period at the standard monthly rate until you cancel.

With Weight Watchers Meetings you can check out your first meeting for free (does not include program materials). They are only available in participating areas and prices may differ depending on location. You can choose from either a subscription based model or pay as you go (prices not shown).

Plans Includes Subscription Lengths & Costs
OnlinePlus Digital tracking tools and reports, recipes, and access to the online community.
  • 1 month for $19.95
  • 3 Months for $49.85 (equals $16.62 a month)
  • 12 Months for $219.36 (equals $18.28 a month)
Meetings Face to face support with fellow members and OnlinePlus.
  • 1 month for $44.95
  • 3 Months for $114.85 (equals $38.28 a month)
  • 6 Months for $229.70 (equals $38.28 a month)
Coaching Personal Coaching over the phone and OnlinePlus.
  • 1 month for $54.95
  • 3 Months for $149.85 (equals $49.95 a month)
  • 6 Months for $284.20 (equals $47.37 a month)

* Prices based on a monthly subscription. Prices can increase/decrease depending on subscription length and/or location. All prices in USD unless specified other wise. Costs and features offered last checked January 02, 2018.

Currently the $20 starter fee included on all plans and subscription lengths is being waived. There is a $50 cancellation fee if you cancel anytime with the 12 month and 6 month plan periods.

Disclaimer: While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of our information at Review Chatter we shall not be held responsible for any discrepancy. There is a possibility that the information provided here is outdated or wrong, please check with the companies website directly for the most recent information. As always you should read your terms of service before purchasing any product online or signing up to any online service.

Photos

Weight Watchers App My Day Food Tracking
Weight Watchers App Activity Tracking
Weight Watchers App Progress Charts
Weight Watchers App Barcode Scanner

Editor review

1 review
Weight Watchers Review
(Updated: November 05, 2015)
Overall rating
 
4.3
Diet Features
 
4.5
Fitness Features
 
2.5
Community Support
 
5.0
Customer Service
 
5.0
Value
 
4.5
Weight Watchers has been in the weight loss business for over 40 years. Along with this experience and success Weight Watchers has refined their system of losing weight so it has become in our opinion one of the best options someone can choose to lose any amount of weight in a reasonable amount of time and most important, safely.

A healthy dose of will power is needed. This is what makes attending the in-person meetings so important because of the motivation you receive from other members with similar goals. 

One thing to be aware of is that the new PointsPlus system launched in 2008 has different values and ranges than the old Points system. The old point system is not compatible with the new system so do not create a plan that uses parts from both.

Pros
Has been in business for over 40 years - Effective in clinical studies - Developed by a scientific advisory board - Pre-packaged food not required
Cons
A healthy dose of will power is needed
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User reviews

25 reviews
 
8%
 
72%
 
12%
2 stars
 
0%
 
8%
Overall rating
 
3.4
Diet Features
 
4.1(25)
Fitness Features
 
3.1(13)
Club Features
 
2.7(3)
Community Support
 
3.9(22)
Customer Service
 
3.1(17)
Value
 
3.6(25)
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Ratings
Diet Features
Does the service provide the diet programs and tools you need? (not applicable for gym reviews)
Fitness Features
Are there a lot of fitness programs? Is the quailty of the exercise programs good? (may not be applicable for some diet service reviews)
Club Features
Does the gym or club have a lot of amenties like workout equipment? (applicable only for gym and club reviews)
Community Support
Customer Service
Is customer service knowledgeable and available when you need it?
Value
Did you get the value you expected for the money you paid?
Pros & Cons
Time
About Me
Comments
Weight Watchers
Overall rating
 
2.6
Diet Features
 
2.5
Fitness Features
 
2.5
Club Features
 
2.0
Community Support
 
2.0
Customer Service
 
2.0
Value
 
4.5
The new Weight Watchers app and program is very easy to use.  However, I ran into several issues with the diet plan.  I used the Purple Diet plan, which emphasizes mostly zero point foods, high protien, and eating almost all non-fat.  This program however has a number of foods that simply do no belong on a zero points food list.  Foods such as fruit, brown rice, and wheat pasta are loaded with calories and carbohydrates.  You cannot eat tons of carbs and expect to lose weight.  I do not care how much fiber it has.  They also emphasize nonfat over low carb, which for many women in completely ineffective.  Any foods that are nonfat were valued at astronomical point values so it didn't make any sense to even eat them.  What ended up happening was I ate too protein, too many carbs, and too many calories.  I lost almost no weight after 2 months.  I also exercised hardcore daily and earned tons of additional points through fitness.  This however did not appear to help my weight loss plan.  I have used Weight Watchers in the past.  10 Years ago it was known as the FlexPoints program.  I lost almost 40 lbs using this old program.  It was based in simple Calories In and Calories Out.  I understand that the new program aims to help people make healthier choices, which is great, but simple not effective for everyone.  If you want to lose weight.  Simply download a free calorie counter app and count your calories and try to get some cardio in 3 times a week.  I would still recommend the program to a friend who needs to lose weight but it appears to work best for those whom are morbidly obese.
Pros
Easy to use
Cons
Not effective for all people
Bottom Line
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.
Length of Time Used
6 - 12 Months

About Me

Location
USA
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Cancelling service
Overall rating
 
1.0
Diet Features
 
1.0
Community Support
 
1.0
Customer Service
 
1.0
Value
 
1.0
I signed up in an hour... later I canceled it through their website cancel instructions. It didn't match with my smart watch that records all my activity and calories so it was not compatible and i did not want to use something that was not compatible. After cancelation a month ago found out  today that they will be charging me monthly until March of 2020 even though I have never used their services. If I want to 'cancel' again I have to pay them $39.99 to cancel a service that I have literally never used. I called my bank in disputed it through them but they're still a chance that I will have to pay them monthly for months of something I will never use. I have never had this problem from anything and this is the most ridiculous crap I've ever had to put up with. The woman that I talk to you was rude and very unhelpful.
Cons
Wont let you cancel
Bottom Line
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Length of Time Used
Less than 1 Month
G
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Hate weight watchers
Overall rating
 
1.0
Diet Features
 
1.0
Fitness Features
 
1.0
Club Features
 
1.0
Community Support
 
1.0
Customer Service
 
1.0
Value
 
1.0
Signed up for a 30 day free trial on a coupon from friend. Canceled during 30 day trial. I’ve been charged 60 bucks for nothing. 
Pros
None
Cons
Over charged me for a trial
Bottom Line
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Length of Time Used
Less than 1 Month

About Me

Location
Dallas
1
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Lifetime Member Voucher
Overall rating
 
3.8
Diet Features
 
5.0
Fitness Features
 
3.0
Customer Service
 
2.0
Value
 
5.0
I think your computer system is horrible.  It used to be the people at our meeting signed me up every 2 months for the free digital voucher. Several months ago I was told I needed to do myself.  Then the customer service # would input the access code for me.  Several months ago I was told they couldn't do this anymore.  I have tried to do myself for months to no avail.  The computer is always down and wont work.  I spend hours on this and after calling in they finally can walk me thru it.  This also takes a lot of time.  It is really difficult to understand the English of many of your employees.  You really need to get all of this corrected, it is a real tarnish on your organization.
Pros
Like the point system
Cons
Didn"t like our wkly meeting leaders
Bottom Line
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.
Length of Time Used
More than 2 Years

About Me

Location
Estero Fl
L
Top 500 Reviewer 1 reviews
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A weight watchers coach
Overall rating
 
5.0
Diet Features
 
5.0
Club Features
 
5.0
Customer Service
 
5.0
Value
 
5.0
I am going to start out by saying WOW I am way amazed by this coach she LITERALLY has gone way OVER AND BEYOND what she should because she is one who truly shows that she cares by asking me how I am doing and what she can do to help me with and what she can do to be a better encouragement to me.!!! She really has wanted to get to know me personally and how I worked and what I love to do and what not she is way super supportive and sweet and Loving like I have not really experienced better then her since I have Been with WW for about 3 months and I have tried others and I have never felt the connection that I have this lady she is amazingly awesome at what she does and truly is respectful and helps me to make reasonable goals that I can maintain long term verses short term which I love it because I forget always and she is one of a kind of WW coach  because she not only says she cares but proves it to Thanks lady you are SO MUCH APPRECIATED BY ME
Pros
Supportive
Cons
I don’t know
Length of Time Used
3 - 6 Months

About Me

Location
Coaching and online and app
C
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